Support for easels and the like.



0. J. E. SOHMITT. SUPPORT FOR EASELS AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATIOIT FILED MAY 2a, 1909.

963,327. V Patented July 5,1910.

. v @WJBQW l STATES PATT UF SE.

OSCAR J. E. SCHMITT, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 JOHN W. FREY,

OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SUPPORT FOR EASELS AND THE LIKE.

Patented July 5, 1910.

Serial No. 498,908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR J. E. SOHMITT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Buffalo, county of Erie, and State of New York, residing at 597 Clinton street, in said city, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Supports for Easels and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are to provide a device of this class which will stand out at an angle from the surface which is supported in an inclined position and do so automatically and at all times when in use and when not in use, to fold against the surface for convenience in packing. These ob jects are accomplished by my invention, one embodiment of which is described below.

For a more particular description of my invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a frame provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a plate connect-ing the support and surface and showing the cams. Figs. 5 and 6 are plan and end views respectively of said plate. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one end of the suport. P Throughout the various views of the drawings similar reference characters, designate similar parts.

The surface 1, which may be a picture frame, mirror or similar article has a plate 2 secured thereto by any suitable means, as screws 3 and has a support 4 mounted therein and adapted to support the surface 1 in an inclined position as shown in Fig. 1. The plate 2 has a central .ridge 5 running laterally thereof and in one of the folds of this ridge 5 is a slot 6 with shoulders or cams 7 for a purpose that will appear below.

The support a is preferably made of spring wire bent substantially as shown and provided with laterally disposed and outwardly extending ends 8 on the parallel parts 9. These ends are sprung in the slot 6 as shown and tend to spread. When the support 4 is placed against the surface 1, the parts 9 are forced toward each other by the cams 7 in the slot 6 and thereby tend to place the support 4: at an angle to the surface 1 as shown in Fig. 1 because of the elasticity of this sup-port.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that it is not restricted thereto but is broad enough to cover all structures that come within the scope of the annexed claims.

WVhat I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, a surface, a plate for attachment thereto formed with a laterally disposed substantially central ridge with a slot, and cams upon oppo site sides of said slot, and a support of spring material having outwardly extended free ends engageable in said slot and adapted to be forced together by said cams.

2. In a device of the class described, a plate having a transverse fold, said fold having a longitudinal slot and cams extending toward each other from opposite ends of said slot, said cams being formed in said fold, and a support of spring material having outwardly extended free ends receivable in said slot and engaged therein in contact with said cams at the ends of said slot.

Signed at the city of Buffalo, county of Erie, and State of New York, this 1 1th day of May, 1909.

OSCAR J. E. SOHMITT.

Witnesses:

AARON J. WEIMERT, RICHARD H. TEMPLETON. 

